The government of Zimbabwe will soon introduce free cancer treatment, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has revealed.

Mr. Tsvangirai said this when he addressed mourners at the funeral wake of the late president of the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers’ Association and force Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe, Gordon Chavhunduka, who died of throat cancer last Friday.

Chavhunduka was a member of the council of elders in Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) wing.

He said cabinet took the decision to offer free cancer treatment following the rising number of people affected by the ailment, including his deputy, Thokozani Khuphe.

The prime minister added that the government would soon establish two centres in Harare and Bulawayo for early detection of the disease.

“Cancer is a disease that has been affecting many people. This is why there has been a cabinet decision to have free treatment of the disease and have two centres to have it detected early,” said Mr. Tsvangirai.

However, commentator, Rejoice Ngwenya of Liberal Market Solutions told VOA Studio 7 that the resources for free cancer treatment are not availble and therefore the prime minister may have been merely politiking.

Interview With Rejoice Ngwenya

Meanwhile, hundreds of people, including Mr. Tsvangirai, gathered in Harare on Monday for a memorial service held in honour of the late academic, politician and traditional leader, Professor Gordon Chavhunduka.